A tactical analysis of Claude Puel’s Southampton

It’s so nearly back. After almost two and a half months, there are now just three days left until the Premier League season is back underway and St Mary’s is once again rocking. But in Southampton’s usual fashion, they will enter the forthcoming season with multiple changes both on and off the pitch. Most notably, the managerial switch that has seen Claude Puel take over from Ronald Koeman. With pre-season now over, many Southampton fans are optimistic that we can once again defy the odds, but in truth, many just aren’t too sure on how Puel is going to do that. So, after analysing Puel’s red and white army over their six pre-season fixtures, were here to explain how.

Let’s start with the basics. Since taking over at Southampton, Puel has confidently taken to the 4-4-2 diamond formation. This formation (as shown below) holds a four man defence, a deep lying midfielder, two central midfielders ahead of the DLM, a playmaker and two strikers.

Unsurprisingly, this midfield focused formation allows Puel’s side to adopt a patient style of play with the aim of keeping the ball fixed to the floor. These aims are achieved through the multiple passing triangles that are made available via the formation and player intelligence – an example of a triangle in the 4-4-2 diamond formation is the positioning of the two CB’s and the deep lying midfielder.

Puel’s aim is to ensure that these triangles continue to be formed in almost every passage of play. The simple concept of triangles in football allows for there to be a large number of passing options at all times, but it takes great understanding from each player to make it an effective means of ball retention and attacking play. When carried out effectively, this patient passing system will suddenly draw an opposition player out of position, and in that moment, the opportunity must be seized with a sudden burst of pace and movement. This concept of Puel’s will allow for some potentially beautiful and fluid football to be played at St. Mary’s stadium this season.

As for when the team isn’t in possession, the general means of recovery is through a relentless high-pressing system that ensures that the midfield diamond is always in shape – the diamond constantly shifts the midfield players about as it’s a ball-oriented system (but more on that later).

So, in the same way that Puel likes to build from the back, it seems logical that we start this analysis from the back too. Simply click onto the next page to begin the analysis.